Survival Guide 8.15.3 - University of North Carolina School of the Arts

UNCSA
School of Music
Graduate Student Survival Guide
Congratulations on your acceptance to your UNCSA graduate program and,
of course, your decision to attend UNCSA. This guide to Winston-Salem was
put together by a team of your peers in 2011 to help you adjust to WinstonSalem. Moving to a new town (let alone to a new country if the case may be)
is a major undertaking. While you have some great sources of information
about your new home in the persons of your professors, you may still feel
like you are stepping into the unknown. This “survival guide” is meant to
give you the information that those who have come before wish they
possessed when they were in your shoes.
In this guide, you will find information on the housing, transportation, food,
and entertainment options that have worked for other students. The
information is by no means exhaustive, and may soon fall out of date. It is
still up to you to do some research on your own. One thing about WinstonSalem though is that you’ll find no shortage of good people willing to help
you along. Best wishes for a wonderful experience in and out of classes. We
envy you at the beginning of your time here!
Best wishes,
Anne Marie Padelford (collaborative piano)
Anna Conigliari (flute)
Nick Statzer (saxophone)
Cameron MacManus (trombone)
2
Table of Contents
A brief description of Winston-Salem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Some Thoughts on Moving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Choosing the Housing Option That’s Right for You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
• On Campus
7
• Off Campus
8
Houses
8
Apartments
10
Entertainment, Eating Out, and Coffee Houses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
Cooking is Cheaper! (Where to get Groceries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
Local and Regional Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
Gigs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Teaching Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24
Unfiltered: Our Student Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
Closing Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
3
A Brief Description of Winston-Salem
For all of you history buffs, here’s a little bit of information that we’ve borrowed from the
Winston-Salem 2011 Official Visitors and Relocation Guide (available at the chamber of
commerce downtown) and some online sources.
What became Forsyth County was first settled by the Moravians, a Christian denomination
started in Czechoslovakia eastern Europe by Jan Hus, who like Martin Luther some 100
years later, objected to some practices of the Catholic Church. The Moravians can be
thought of as the first protestants. For his trouble, Jans was declared a heretic and burned
at the stake in 1415. The church did not die with it’s founder, and Moravians eventually
settled in the New World in the mid eighteenth century. The settlers purchased a tract of
land in North Carolina that they called “Wachovia” and started the towns of Bethabara
(1753), Bethania (1759), and Salem (1766) shortly thereafter. The town of Winston was
founded in 1849, named after a Revolutionary War commander and later United States
Congressman Joseph Winston. In 1913, the towns of Winston and Salem were joined,
resulting in the plural form we have today and giving the local baseball team (The Dash) it’s
namesake. Today, the city of Winston-Salem is home to around 250,000 people and is
known as “The City of the Arts” for its rich performing and visual arts scene.
Just ten or fifteen years ago, there was no downtown scene. After business hours, the area
was a ghost town with a reputation for being less than safe. Today, the downtown area is
bustling with people day and night. There are plenty of things to do, you’ll feel right at
home whether you’re moving here from a big city or small town. Winston-Salem fits right in
the middle. Big enough to have that “critical mass” necessary for an arts scene, but small
enough to have that small town community feeling. There are a number of other towns in
Forsyth county and sub-areas within the city limits, but it is the downtown scene that is the
focus of this guide.
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts shares Winston-Salem with four other
colleges: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, Salem College, and the
Piedmont Bible College. Additionally, there are a large number of alumni who choose to stay
in Winston-Salem after graduation. All this means that there is no shortage of talented,
driven artists in the area. You’ll be in good company.
Some online sources of information:
http://www.cityofws.org/
http://www.visitwinstonsalem.com/
4
Some Thoughts on Moving
Many graduate students have accumulated a large quantity of “stuff” prior to moving to
Winston-Salem. While there are some items that you cannot part with, keep in mind that
transporting all your belongs can cost upwards of a thousand dollars in van rental and gas.
Winston-Salem is home to many thrift stores. Why not sell all your furniture, kitchen
supplies, and other bulky items that are not of sentimental value and use that money plus
the savings on hauling all that stuff to buy “new” used stuff here. You’ll surely be able to
find better uses for all that money you saved.
Downtown Rescue Mission: Furniture and Appliances
Located at 717 Oak Street. Before you let go of the moving truck or that coerced friend or
family member with a large vehicle, stop by here to see what kind of furnishings you can
find on the cheap. LPs are a dollar each, and they’ve also got some cool threads.
Goodwill: Kitchen gadgets, silverware, plates, etc.
There are several locations around town. The two largest are located at 2760 Peters Creek
Pkwy. & 2701 University Pkwy. There is also one on Waughtown right behind the school. For
some reason, they’ve got some nice classical LP’s over there.
Downtown Thrift: some cool 1980’s t-shirts and random stuff from yesteryear.
Located at 214 North Broad street next to the piano dealer showroom. This place is just fun
to browse. They’ve got a little of everything. It’s like a 1989 thrift store, but now.
Goat Feathers Antiques: they have some sweet 50’s vintage stuff for cheap
Located at 908 South Poplar Street, this tiny antiques corner is close to campus. They have
some chic dinnerware at reasonable prices.
Plato’s Closet: 600 Hanes Mall Boulevard
5
Consignment Furniture
If you strike out at the Downtown Rescue Mission and the area Goodwill Stores, try these
places out for reasonably priced stuff.
Consignment Furniture Emporium:
Located at 599 South Stratford Road, this place has a huge inventory with many options for
your apartment essentials. Furthermore, the inventory tends to move quickly so great items
are frequently coming in. Visiting the store is entertainment in and of itself. You may even
find yourself making frequent trips back to find that perfect bargain.
SG (Still Great) Furniture Consignment Gallery
Located at 601 South Broad Street, SG Consignment Furniture is brand new as of August,
2011. The owners chatted with us as we took the picture below (they were out painting the
facade). From what we can gather, this place might be a bit upscale for the average student
digs, but it’s worth stopping by since it’s so close to campus. Check out the website.
6
Choosing the Housing Option That’s Right for You
UNCSA, formally known as NCSA, has been around now for over 40 years. Despite its
relatively small size, you have probably run into somebody with first-hand knowledge of the
campus and surrounding areas. The musician’s world is very interconnected. What many of
us heard is that Winston-Salem is a rough town, that the school is in the “ghetto”, and that
caution is warranted when searching for a place to live. That is becoming less the case these
days, but Winston-Salem’s revitalization is still very much a work in progress. There are
good areas and bad, as with any city.
Most graduate students are pleased with their housing situation in Winston-Salem whether
they choose to live on or off campus. There are benefits in both options. This guide
identifies the off-campus options and neighborhoods that are most commonly utilized by
students. Since it can be hard to get a feeling for a neighborhood based on a description on
craigslist (the best way to find houses for rent) or through a realtor, use caution when a deal
looks too good to be true or falls within a zone that we identify as “sketchy”.
Living on campus
Perhaps you’ve lived on campus throughout your undergraduate career and are sick of it by
now, but living on campus has some real advantages. First, you’ll never have to worry about
getting to classes on time due to a weather emergency or have to deal with a negative
landlord. The real advantage to living on campus though is social. As you might expect at an
arts school, everybody is very absorbed in learning their particular craft. At the graduate
level, you won’t run into majors in other fields in your classes, or in the practice room. If
you want to meet non-music majors, living on campus will be a great help. Even in offcampus parties, the various schools within UNCSA tend to be quite socially insular.
7
Located right next to campus, UNCSA’s Center Stage Apartments offer students the
convenience of a five minute walk to get to class. Students have their own bedroom and
bathroom with a shared living space/kitchen. If you look closely at the picture of the Center
Stage student apartment complex, you’ll notice some heavy iron bars. There is also a heavy
iron gate that opens with a special card or by ringing an apartment on the inside. Those
security measures are there for a reason. The streets directly adjoining campus are
patrolled by campus police, but one block in and things visibly deteriorate.
Living off campus: House vs. Apartment
Have a home away from school, even just a few blocks away, can give you that place of
escape from the pressures of studies. Most graduate students live off campus. Housing is
cheap and plentiful.
CRAIGSLIST (www.craigslist.org) is a great resource if you’re looking from afar. Some
students have even found roommates using this online source. Don’t worry too much about
finding something right away. You can always coordinate with a current student or other
affiliate of the school to find a place to stay for a week in town if you have trouble locating
something from far away.
Houses offer another place to practice, which is essential because the school shuts down
between semesters and you won’t be able to use UNCSA’s practice facilities. Houses
represent the majority of housing close to campus, and the apartment complexes in that
area aren’t as nice as those in other parts of town. Apartments offer amenities like laundry
and pools, but to get a nice one, you’ll have to have a car and plan for a ten to fifteen
minute drive to campus. Houses go for around $600 a month, studio apartments $300-600
depending on the location and the amenities. They can be very affordable, especially with
roommates. This option makes you a bit more vulnerable to theft, so choose your
neighborhood carefully, and use common sense to safeguard your stuff. Keep in mind that
there is a wide range of housing options in Winston and you can find a home as loaded or as
economical as you wish. A word of caution: heating bills can run close to $300 a month in
the winter. Cranking up the heat up so you can wear shorts inside will cost you!
This house is located on
Green Street. It is known
as “The Mansion” and has
been in UNCSA music
student hands for some
time. There are currently
four or five houses that
UNCSA music students call
home within a three block
radius. In addition to
Craigslist, try contacting
Baldwin Properties for
rental houses close to
campus. They have been
very good thus far.
8
Rental Houses in this
area have occasionally
been subjected to
break-ins, but it is still a
popular and
predominantly safe
area. Currently,
UNCSA students live
on S. Poplar, Green,
and West Streets within
this block. Tip: Avoid
houses near apartment
buildings, gas stations,
and abutting the Green
Street Church
Vintage Avenue,
and Main Street
between Acadia
and Vintage are
some of the nicest
rental houses used
by students, and
the most
convenient to
campus. The left
side of this
rectangle is also
very nice, but
there arenʼt as
many rental
properties over
that way. Areas
below and to the
right get
progressively more
“iffy”. Stay away
from housing on
the other side of
campus entirely.
9
Apartments tend to be a bit safer, but we do caution you to avoid the ones very close to
campus. They offer low rent, but tend to attract undesirable neighbors. Students typically
live in apartments located either downtown (such as the Gray Court Apartments) or within a
10 minute drive to campus. Here is a partial listing of highly recommended apartment
complexes that current and recent students have used. They are close to the highway,
making for an easy commute.
Crowne Club Apartments: These apartments offer a quiet living area with a homey feel,
and come highly recommended. Located at 200 Crowne Club Drive, Winston-Salem, NC
27104.
http://www.crownepartners.com/apartments/northcarolina/club/
The Arbors: These too, come well recommended. The rent is affordable and it is close to a
major grocery store. Located at 4981 Hunt Club Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104.
www.arborsapartments.com/
Brookford Place Apartments: Affordable rent, spacious apartments, and great
management! Located at 50 Brookford Pl Ct, Winston Salem, NC 27104.
http://www.apartments.com/rent/Winston-Salem-NC/Brookford-Place/102830.21.
Gray Court Apartments: Located downtown, and within biking range to campus, this old
hotel has been converted to residences with a real New York City kind of feel. There are
several UNCSA students there now. Some stories about strange neighbors, but overall a
good place.
http://www.neariassociates.com/graycourt.pdf
10
Entertainment and Eating Out
UNCSA graduate students are a social crowd, and Winston-Salem has plenty to offer in the
way of restaurants and nightspots. Our survey will focus primarily on downtown, both due
to its proximity to the school and status as a regional social and cultural hub. Within
downtown, there are three distinct areas of note: Trade Street, 4th Street, and the West
End. The following descriptions of each area will give you an idea of the character of each
section.
Not every point of interest lies within these three areas. For instance, Krankies is a major
fixture in the downtown scene, but is isolated on the east end amongst the old tobacco
warehouses. To make your search for a particular kind of outing easier, we’ve also compiled
some reviews of establishments within categories of entertainment: Coffee Houses,
performance spaces, and “other” directly following this basic outline.
There are lots of
fun things to do
downtown. Bars
and restaurants,
bakeries, this movie
theater, art
galleries, and a
host of hang-out
spots await you
(and your money).
11
Downtown
4th Street
4th Street is the street in Winston-Salem. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll look at the
stretch bordered by Broad Street to the West and Church Street to the East. Naturally,
restaurants come and go. These are current to 2011. Some have been around a long while,
and some will be around a long while. Enjoy the standards like Foothills and Mellow
Mushroom. Hopefully they will remain in good company. As editors, we’ve taken the liberty
of highlighting our suggestions of where to start in red.
Foothills Brewing
This microbrewery has half a dozen or so yearly favorites with a couple seasonal delights in
rotation. A full menu of American cuisine makes this a hotspot with the meat-and-potatoes
parents and visiting guest artists. Saturday evenings feature live music. Not the cheapest
for mixed drinks or food, but their weekly beer specials and the half priced fish and chips on
Tuesday nights are not to be missed. If you think you’re pretty smart, get a team together
for Trivia Night, held every Tuesday and Thursday.
Skippy’s
Hot dog! Skippy's has been serving delicious hot dogs in pretzel rolls and hand-cut french
fries since 2002.
Hutch and Harris
A Winston staple, H&H has great weekly drink specials with local favorites on tap. Crab
cakes are the specialty. It’s a bit higher priced, so let your parents take you here once
you’ve put that last bookshelf together. Great brunch on Sundays as well.
Rana Loca
Get your Cuban flavor on and be sure to keep an eye out for live shows. These folks also
support live jazz.
Wolfie’s
Tickle your taste buds with customized flavors of frozen custard. This is a post-concert
favorite.
Recreation Billiards
Small little watering hole in the thick of the 4th street fun.
Noma
This urban bar and grill is situated right across from UNCSA’s Steven’s Center. Food is higher
on the price scale, but certainly tasty. Check out the cocktail bar upstairs. Brunch is on both
Saturday and Sunday.
12
Club Mod
This is the token dance club of 4th street.
Mellow Mushroom
This pizza shop has a menu with creative pies and tasty drafts. If the weather is nice, this is
one of the larger patios in town.
Camino
This bakery opened in July 2011.
Tate’s
Old fashioned cocktails and live jazz on Tuesday nights.
Buena Pinta
If you’re fiending for fajitas this is the only Mexican cuisine on 4th street.
Mooney’s
This restaurant features Greek food with a relaxed atmosphere and lots of vegetarian
options.
Downtown Thai Restaurant
Pricey, but one of the better locations in town for sushi.
Many students
have jobs
downtown.
Working too
much may lead
to madness. This
unfortunate
subject has
ingested too
much insanely
good custard at
Wolfies.
13
Trade Street
Trade Street rivals 4th as a late
night hang. It is home to many art
galleries and local craft guilds.
Finnegan’s Wake
Get your Irish on at this pub with
favorites like reubens, fish n’ chips,
Scotch eggs, and many more
national favorites. Get your green
beer on St. Patty’s day. High class
enough to have a name that
invokes Irish novelist James Joyce,
but chill enough to be a fun hang.
Sweet Potatoes
This small and intimate restaurant serves
unique, southern inspired, uptown, down-home cooking.
6th and Vine
Along with great cuisine, you’ll find an extensive wine menu as well as weekly drink specials
(like half priced wine bottles on Sunday) and late night menus. The atmosphere is
spectacular and features a roomy patio area out back and live music and DJ’s.
Single Brothers
This cozy spot has a lot of personality
and not a lot of space. Meet new
friends when you share a picnic table
outside.
Silver Moon
Dive bar, but get to know your
bartender and you’ll never be thirsty.
The Garage
A live music joint that features various
local artists.
Elliott’s Revue
Discover a different crowd than what
you would normally see in Winston.
This venue features live music and
DJ’s.
Breakfast of Course
A breakfast fan’s wildest dream come true; open ‘til 3am Thursday thru Sunday. Try their
breakfast burritos, breakfast club, or any other awesome breakfast-themed meal. Great
food and atmosphere.
14
The West End
The West end is currently the epicenter of the ongoing trend towards revitalizing
downtown. It is also home to some of Winston-Salemʼs most venerated established
nightspots such as the West End Opera House and Burke Street Pizza. This area starts
on 4th Street west of Broad and encompasses 4th and Burke Streets and West End
Boulevard.
Burke Street Pizza
Stepping in this pizza shop, you will be transported to Brooklyn to enjoy signature New York style thin
crust pie. Open late and with pizza available by the slice (big and wide requiring the trademark New York
fold), this is an affordable option for a quick late night bite.
Fourth Street Filling Station
With a brick and ivy courtyard, this restaurant is home to the nicest patio area in town. The menu includes
familiar favorites and Southern specialties with prices tending to average on the higher side.
West End Café
Good food and decent atmosphere with a full bar. This is the place to find a wide variety of sandwiches.
Ten 0 One
Fun bar with darts and billiards hosting local bands in a venue with great sound.
15
Other Restaurants Worth Mentioning
These places fall outside of the main downtown scene, but are well worth
checking out!
Old Salem Tavern
If your family is able to visit
WS to see you perform, be
sure to have them treat you
to lunch or dinner at the Old
Salem Tavern in the middle
of Old Salem. The food is
great and surprisingly
affordable, plus your folks
will enjoy the colonial
architecture and dress. The
chicken pot pie should be
ordered by someone in your
group, and the pumpkin
muffins that come with your
meal are excellent.
picture taken from Old Salem Tavern website
Las Estrellas and Señor Bravo
Las Estrellas (The Stars) at 845 Silas Creek Parkway and Señor Bravo at 241 South Marshall
Street are your best bets when you get the Mexican food twitch. Owned by the same family
and both located close to campus. The staff are fun and congenial. For instance, one host
said “follow me” to a table and proceeded to wind his way in circles through half the dinning
area until we all starting laughing. A fun and inexpensive meal out. OPEN LATE.
TJ’s Deli
This classic deli was founded in 1982, and continues to serve the best sandwiches close to
campus. Check out the ‘Po Boy and other hearty selections. Located at 1211 Silas Creek
Parkway (Parkway Plaza Center).
16
Coffee Houses
We are a caffeinated bunch. Get your fix at any of Winston-Salem’s Coffee Spots around
town, or on campus at The Groggy Stop (located between Sunnyside Ave and Kudzu Valley).
What is sold as “coffee” in the Pickle Jar on campus is not worth it unless you are under
severe duress.
Brewnerds Poor service and little selection are somewhat mitigated by its close proximity
to the Steven’s Center. It will do in a pinch on Nutcracker rehearsal breaks. 305 West Fourth
Street.
Camino Bakery (on 4th street by Mellow Mushroom. Located at 310B West Fourth Street.
This place has only been open for three weeks as of the writing of this guide. It looks pretty
decent.
Washington Perk Owned by the
same folks as Swaimʼs Grocery (which
sells beer rather than celery)
Washington Perk serves the
Washington Park neighborhood with a
wide selection of Fair Trade coffee
which can be purchased by the cup or in
whole bean or ground form. They also
have a decent deli and all the grocery
essentials. Outdoor and indoor chilling
facilities include a varied library. Often a
hangout for theatre alums, faculty, and
other local artists. They have some
great (and cheap) breakfast options.
228 West Acadia Avenue.
Krankieʼs, located at 211 East Third Street
in Downtown WS is the townʼs number one
coffee and techie hangout. Frequented by a
wide array of cliental, including students from
all local colleges and universities. Besides
the coffee and light snacks, Krankies hosts
an art gallery and performances by local
indie rockers and jazz/jam groups. Truly the
place to go for study groups, or just hanging
out with a few of your favorite folks between
classes. There is also a satellite location in
the form of an Airstream on Reynolda Road.
17
Groceries
It seems that you never have time to cook between practicing and doing library research
homework, but an over-reliance on eating out is one of those habits that can wreck your
finances in a hurry. There is no shortage of options for the intrepid grocery shopper in
Winston-Salem. Whether you’re into the mega stores like Walmart, or small local farmers’
markets, the choice is yours.
Walmart
Walmart is evil. They claim to save you money, but in doing so temp you to buy a whole
bunch of stuff that you don’t need because it’s “on sale”. It’s virtually impossible to spend
any amount of time there and lose less than fifty bucks. It’s worse than Atlantic City. That
said, they are open late and have just about anything you could need. You can’t argue with
convenience. 3475 Parkway Village Ct (take Peter’s Creek Parkway south from campus)
Whole Foods
If you are reading this entry, you have money to burn. Whole foods has great stuff, but
you’ll pay for it. The closest one to campus is at 41 Miller St, right around the corner from
the closest Harris Teeter. Of course, you if you have a need for gluten-free or other specially
foods, this might be your best choice.
Compare Foods
A Hispanic grocery. You’ll find lots of interesting fruits and tubers that befuddle the shopper
not privy to the specific culinary heritage they represent. Compare Foods is cheap, and has
the distinction of being the only full service grocery that is within walking distance to
campus (barely). Located in the Parkway Plaza Shopping Center at 951 Silas Creek Parkway.
Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter is your basic mid-scale grocery chain. There are several locations in WinstonSalem. The two closest ones at 420 South Stratford Road, and in the shopping center at
2281 Cloverdale Avenue. They’ve got good stuff. There’s also a really cheap and tasty
Chinese take out and a Thai place next to the one on Cloverdale. The school offers a shuttle
that goes here. Ask for the schedule in the office area by the student center computer lab.
18
Ronnie’s Country Store
If you’re into local produce
like fruit, collard greens or
leeks, local honey, or jams,
then Ronnie’s will be your
favorite grocery store. It’s
right downtown, and way
cheaper than Walmart. Your
grocery bill will be half that
than a trip to any major
grocery chain because
there’s hardly any processed
food there. Located right
downtown at 642 North
Cherry Street.
Ollie’s Bakery
300 South Marshall
Street. A favorite for
amazing gourmet
desserts and baked
goods. Be sure to try
the muesli and French
Begets. They have
pretty good coffee and
are some nice folks.
Always classical music
on the house
speakers.
Washington Perk Grocery
Located at 228 West Acadia Avenue,
Washington Perk has the essentials,
with an emphasis on local products. A
tip for the breakfast eater: you can get
a substantial and delicious sausage,
egg, and cheese breakfast biscuit and a
small gourmet coffee for $2.94. They
open early and have a nice seating area
with wifi. Immensely helpful and
convenient to campus.
19
Farmers’ Markets
There are so many, that this source of locally produced food deserves its own section. This
guide is long enough as it is, so here’s a listing instead:
Reynolda Farm Market
Located at 1206 Reynolda Road.
Cobblestone Farmers’ Market
Located at Fogle Street Northeast. Located next to Krankies.
Winston-Salem Downtown Farmer’s Market
Located on 6th Street between Cherry and Trade. Open Tuesday and Thursday mornings
from May to September.
The Piedmont Triad Farmers Market
The Piedmont Triad Farmers Market is located between Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and
High Point. Directions: Take I- 40, to exit #208. This is Sandy Ridge Road . Follow the signs
to the Market entrance, approximately one quarter mile from the Interstate highway, and
south on Sandy Ridge Road. The entrance will be easily seen on your left.
Greensboro Farmers Curb Market
Located at 501 Yanceyville Street in Greensboro. The Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market
offers fresh, locally-grown produce, baked goods and foods, and arts and crafts -- all
produced, prepared and crafted by the locals.The Market also hosts special events such as
Herb Fest, Strawberry Day, Veggie Fest, Tomato Day, Berry Day, Watermelon Day, and
Farmers' Appreciation Day. Open year-round on Saturdays from 6 am-12 noon, and on
Wednesdays from 7 am-1 pm, May through December.
!
!
!
Picture taken from Piedmont Triad Farmers Market website
20
Local Transportation
Does Winston-Salem have a public transportation system? Yes. Should I count on it to get
me around? Survey says . . .not so much. You can get away with not owning a car, but
you’ll have to live either on campus, or within a short walking or biking distance. WinstonSalem is just too spread out for the limited scope of public transportation to be viable for
UNCSA students.
However, there are a few city bus routes that come in handy. For
instance, the #14 bus can take you to Compare Foods. Pay special attention to the
schedule: if you miss the bus, you’ll be forced to take a very expensive cab ride. Consult the
Winston-Salem Transit Authority website at http://www.wstransit.com/. UNCSA does have
some regular shuttles to the mall and other locations which we’ve listed for you below. Most
UNCSA graduate students own a car (often on its sputtering, wheezing, oil leaking
deathbed).
It seems like Americans are adverse to walking. Downtown is actually only a twenty
minute walk from campus. In the past, international students have been told that it is
unsafe to walk outside of campus alone. This is not true. Just avoid the back side of
campus. Other than that, walking through main street is fine and going downtown alone is
ok too. (From Juliana Mesa, bassoonist from Colombia)
Biking is a solid option for those who live close to campus. Students with a high tolerance
for risk have even been known to bike around with cellos.
UNCSA Student Transportation System
See UNCSA website for information regarding airport shuttle
*Note: Trips leave from Performance Place/Watson Circle
Sundays: Thruway Center & Whole Foods
Borders, Bed Bath and Beyond, Harris Teeter Grocery Store, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Juice Shop,
Fed-Ex Office, Kinko’s, Ichiban, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Whole Foods, and more. Bus leaves
UNCSA at 2 p.m. Leaves Thruway at 4 p.m. Leaves Whole Foods at 4:10 p.m.
Tuesdays: K’Vegas Shopping Center
Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Staples, Food Lion, Cato’s, Rue 21,
Maurice, Rugged Warehouse, Hallmark, Sally’s, Super Cuts, Great Clips, NY Nails, Dollar
General, Shoe Show, Rackroom Shoes, Payless Shoes, Fire Mountain (All you can eat
buffet), Starbucks, Terry’s Deli, Panera Bread, Chic-fIL-A, The Loop, Cookout, and more. Bus
leaves UNCSA at 6:30 p.m. Leaves Food Lion at 8:20 p.m. Leaves Target at 8:25 p.m.
Leaves Walmart at 8:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: Hanes Mall
Bus Leaves UNCSA at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. (two trips). Leaves the mall at 7:15 and 8:30
p.m.
Fridays: Carmike Wynnsong 12
Cinemas Bus leaves UNCSA at 6:30 p.m. Leaves Carmike Wynnsong at 9:40 p.m.
Saturdays: Hanes Mall
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Bus Leaves UNCSA at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. (two trips). Leaves the mall at 1:15 and 3 p.m.
Regional Transportation
Major Airport: Piedmont Triad International Airport (approximately 25 minutes from town)
There are also airports in Raleigh and Charlotte. Often, it is easier to book international
flights or trips to less common destinations at these larger airports. Plan ahead to sucker
someone into driving you. In case you can’t find a ride at 5 AM, check out PART: the
Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (visit www.partnc.org).
Bus route
information, including information about the $2 fare from the airport to Winston-Salem can
be found on their website.
There are also buses that go to Greensboro and other North Carolina Cities.
information on the Winston-Salem Transit Authority website.
You can find
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Gigs
There are many opportunities to perform in Winston-Salem and the greater Piedmont Triad
area. There are several regional orchestras, including the Winston-Salem Symphony
Orchestra, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and the Piedmont Wind Symphony.
Auditions for the sub list typically occur in the late summer. Contact personnel managers
through the website of the group with which you wish to audition. UNCSA also does a great
job hooking up students with gigs. Your first step to getting plugged into the local
scene should be to contact Joe Mount in the UNCSA outreach office at
[email protected]. He’ll be happy to help you out and suggest other performance
avenues that you might not be aware of.
Winston-Salem has a small, but vibrant
jazz scene. As of 2011, Krankies, Tate
Street Cafe, Azule (Rana Loca) and
Hutch & Harris are all hiring jazz
groups to perform. When booking a
gig, please keep in mind that you are
either strengthening or undermining
the bargaining power of all local jazz
musicians. Please consult established
pros before selling yourself short.
Churches offer other performance opportunities for enterprising soloists or chamber
ensembles. Many local churches have connections with UNCSA alumni. Consult Joe Mount or
other faculty for good places to start.
Retirement Homes and Villages offer many performance opportunities and pay nicely
too!
Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community
Located at 1240 Arbor Road. 45-minute informances are often scheduled as part of the
residents’ events. It is usually expected that the performers talk briefly about the program
or their instruments, which is great experience in speaking before a performance!
Background dinner music or brief performances for special events are often needed at Arbor
Acres. The development directors often hire performers through Joe Mount.
Salemtowne
Located at 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Salemtowne has a large space available for
performances and they welcome UNCSA student performers.
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Teaching Lessons
Teaching lessons is a great way gain valuable experience and make a little extra money.
There are several established music stores that may be in need of a teacher on your
instrument. If you are interested in teaching privately outside of a music store, consider
consulting with other local teachers to get an idea of the going rate for lessons. Local band
directors may also be good sources of students. The typical going rate for an hour lesson is
about $30.
Jackson Music
Jackson Music is located in the western part of Winston on Stratford Road. Teachers are
privately contracted and pay studio rent in the amount of $6 for an hour. You collect lesson
fees directly from your students and pay Jackson on a monthly basis. The studios are
located beneath the store and are smaller than average. With a good inventory of useful
method books, students can conveniently and quickly obtain lesson materials directly from
the store. In addition, the store staff will help you to recruit students. You tell the lesson
manager when you are available to teach and then the staff assigns students to your
available slots.
Separk Music
Separk used to be located downtown, but just moved a ten minute drive out west to
Lewisville on Lewisville-Clemmons Road. These folks will help you get students and assist
with scheduling, but the lesson fee is set by them. UNCSA flute alum Sara Newman is
currently the lesson studio manager.
The Wherehouse Teaching Studios
These studios are located beneath Krankies, which is a favorite for parents as they can grab
a cup of coffee during lesson meetings. Check out their facebook page for more information
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wherehouse-Teaching-Studios/117550364957710).
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Unfiltered:
Responses to our Graduate Music
Student Alumni Survey
As part of our research for this guide, we send out a survey through Jonas Silver in the
UNCSA Alumni Office. We got about ten responses. Some of the recommended restaurants
came not from our own experience, but from responses to that survey. The best parts
though were the essay responses. We’ve used them as a basis for topics to cover. See if
anything looks familiar!
What is one aspect of living in Winston-Salem that was very different than at your previous
residence? the "non-existence" of public transportation... although there are buses but when
I was a student there I did not know that... I also rarely used the campus-buses which are a
great thing to have!!! and all drivers were really kind and nice, that was a good surprise
also it was great to have met so many different people, most of them becoming very good
friends and that there is always a helping hand, when you need it! also concerning studiesit was terrific to have so many opportunities to play, no matter if it was chamber music,
solo-repertoire or orchestra- there was always the chance to be on stage and practice
playing concerts, get your nervousness under control and also to listen to your colleagueswhen I was there there were also many faculty concerts where you could get new ideas and
input... in short: it was a great time with great people!!!
The biggest difference was the size. My husband and I both grew up on farms in a small
town, and just prior to moving to Winston, we lived in a college town that was larger than
where we grew up but still had a relatively small community feel to it. Never before did I
have to worry about riding my bike on a busy street, as there was not a sidewalk on the
road outside our apartment.
Having moved from Bayonne, NJ, I found Winston-Salem to be cleaner and full of
fascinating historical settings and information. The downtown scene was VERY good...I miss
it to this day! Also, allergies were a much bigger concern in the humid and flowering plantfilled South. I have never seen so much pollen!
What would you wish you had known before moving to Winston-Salem? I wish I would have
known where the safest neighborhoods were located. While I absolutely loved the UNCSA
campus and felt perfectly safe on campus, the surrounding area around the campus was not
very safe, which is why my husband and I lived over by Wake Forest. We really just took a
chance though, after looking at a couple of the apartments surrounding campus. In
addition, it would've been nice to be forewarned that Winston-Salem can be difficult to find
one's way around in because the streets do not run north-south or east-west (in a grid).
While it is a very pleasant city, it certainly took us a while to figure out how to get to places
we wanted to go. :-)
I wish that I had understood more about the crime statistics. I had researched them prior to
moving and found the rate (per 1,000 people) to be similar to that of Chicago; however I
was unable to find out which areas would be considered 'dangerous' to walk around at
night, etc. The area where I lived had a bad drug problem...during my second week in W-S,
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there was a drug bust next door, and our neighbor's car was broken into three times while I
was residing in the area. Having moved from an urban area, I was able to deal with this
environment, but students moving in from rural areas would likely have found conditions in
some areas terrifying and unacceptable. If possible, it would be nice for out-of-state and
international students to have some information regarding crime statistics, safety,
suggestions, etc. included in their acceptance package. I think UNCSA is very informative
when it comes to security on their own campus, but off-campus security could use a bit
more attention as well.
roads in winston salem are not made for bikers- if you have the money you should get a
car- biking is too dangerous compared with germany... also power cables hanging from
home to home can be frozen in winter and then you are without power...
Can the university do anything to make the transition easier? Maybe send out a map of the
city and also suggestions of quality apartments in safe neighborhoods.
There is somebody available for international students. I don´t think she has ever left her
office without a car… in WS… her advice were not the best. I didn’t leave the school because
I was terrified of what people were saying, and it´s not that bad.
maybe have some more advanced students show the new students around and not only for
a day but for a longer term of time... and have a peer-person to talk to if there are
problems of any kind...
Closing Thoughts
We hope that you can put this information to good use. The purpose of this guide is
to help out new graduate students. Your input in future versions is crucial. Dr.
Rothkopf envisions an overhaul of this guide every few years to keep things current.
If you get a survey, please answer it. If you have ideas on how to make this guide
better, please let someone know. Not that you need us to encourage you . . . but
have fun in Winston-Salem!
- Nick, Cameron, Anna, and Anne Marie
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